In 2024 Torch was awarded funding to initiate the recruitment of our first Parish Nurse. At that time we had already been working closely with another Parish Nurse in South Reading who is employed through Reading Gateway Church. From this work we had seen the value of this service to the local communities. Together, we were often serving the same clients in Jesus’ name by jointly meeting their holistic needs. See Reading Gateway to learn more about the Parish Nurse in South Reading or to make a referral.
The work of the Parish Nurse in Coley and Southcote has been so fruitful that we have recruited a second nurse to work alongside Melanie. This work also requires a small team of dedicated volunteers to support the nurses, so if this is of interest to you or anyone you know, please get in contact.
What is a Parish Nurse?
A Parish Nurse is a nurse registered by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), working under its Code of Conduct. Confidentiality is within the Code: anything said to the Parish Nurse is kept private unless you are being harmed or are harming someone else, or at risk of doing so.
The Parish Nurse is not employed by the NHS but by Torch and will work closely with local churches, charities and agencies, complementing but not duplicating existing services.
Torch are undertaking this project in partnership with the national charity Parish Nursing Ministries UK, who will provide restorative clinical supervision, training and support to ensure that the service is well run.
Where and when will they work?
The Neighbourhood Parish Nursing Service is available to anyone living within designated areas of Coley and Southcote. These are areas of West Reading where significant deprivation and need has been identified in the local communities.
What does the Parish Nurse do?
Parish Nurses work with people of all ages and backgrounds, with any faith or none, focusing on the person rather than just a medical condition, and integrating all the different aspects of health. Typically the care they offer might include:
- Health screening and advice
- Health promotion/education
- Help with stress and anxiety
- Health support for short or long-term illness
- Medication advice
- End of life support
- Support/well-being groups
- Home visits
- Spiritual care including prayer, if wished
- Referral to faith leaders as appropriate
The role complements, but does not replace, the NHS and other statutory services and care agencies.
The Parish Nurse is uniquely placed to be able to attend to the well-being of the ‘whole person’, irrespective of their faith, or no faith, their age, sex, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation or ability. At Torch we believe that everyone is valued and accepted by God, and we want to demonstrate His love and hope to all.
Torch offers a Neighbourhood Parish Nursing Service (NPNS) to the communities of Coley Park and Southcote in West Reading where our Parish Nurse, Melanie Gager RGN MSc, serves the local community in partnership with five local churches.
